PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMA IN FINANCIAL CRIME INVESTIGATION

Delivered by a leading financial crime investigator with vast experience in both the public and private sector, the purpose of the Professional Diploma in Financial Crime Investigation is to equip students from a variety of professional or interested backgrounds (Investigation Units, Compliance Units and Risk Management) with an understanding of the origins of financial crime and what to do when financial crime is suspected.

All lectures will be related to the various concepts of white-collar financial crime and offending. At the end of the course, students will have a detailed understanding of: what is financial crime and how it may affect their organisation. They will also be given the knowledge required, in the identification of financial crime, knowing who commits financial crime and why they do so.

They will also be given an understanding of the offences of financial crime and knowledge of the legislation covering such offences with a view to reducing an organisations risk of financial crime, carrying out a thorough investigation including identify required proofs, interviewing witnesses/suspects and how to prepare a report that will stand up to scrutiny in civil or criminal proceedings.

CPD Hours – Recognised by The Institute of Banking and LIA for CPD Purposes

Lecture 1

Lecture 1 – Introduction; Financial Crime – A Global Phenomena

• What is Financial Crime, an overview
• What is the extent of Financial Crime in Ireland and Globally?
• What are the impacts of Financial Crime on a business?
• Why do people or organisations commit Financial Crime?

Lecture 2 – What am I investigating – Legislation in relation to financial crime offences:

• Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud (Offences) Act 2001
• Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018
• Competition Act 2002 – Cartels
• Companies Act 1990 – Insider Trading
• Companies Act 2014 – Fraudulent / Reckless Trading

Lecture 3 – Money Laundering and its relationship to Financial Crime

• What is money laundering?
• Designated Persons
• Predicate offences
• Money laundering offences
• International initiatives to combat money laundering
• Specific rules and requirements
• Enforcement

Lecture 4 – Cybercrime, the future of financial crime?

• How vulnerable are Businesses/Organisations to Cybersecurity Breaches?
• What are the biggest Cybersecurity threats to any Business/Organisation?
• What is your understanding of such threats?
• What steps can you and your organisation take to reduce the effects of such threats?

Lecture 5 – Role of the Corporate Enforcement Authority in the fight against Financial Crime

• Who is the C.E.O.
• What do they do?
• What Powers does the Authority have to investigate financial crime?
• What actions can they take against suspected offenders

Lecture 6 – How to identify Financial Crime and ways to reduce it?

• Assessing the risk of financial crime
• Strategy to reduce and prevent financial crime
• The role of HR policies (Code of Ethics and Corporate Culture)
• The role of management and employees
• Methods of detecting corporate fraud:
• Internal and external whistleblowers

Lecture 7 – Investigating allegations both internal and external

• What to do when financial crime is suspected?
• Preparing an investigation plan
• Collecting documentary and electronic evidence
• Conducting interviews to gather evidence (see lecture Interviewing witness/suspects)
• Concluding the investigation (see lecture 9)

Liaison with external stakeholders such as:

• Garda Economic Crime Unit
• Financial Intelligence Unit
• Revenue Commissioner
• Central Bank
• Other Regulatory Authority

Lecture 8 – Interviewing witness and suspects

• What is an interview and why are they so important?
• Qualities of a good interviewer
• Barriers to Interviewing
• Types of witnessed and how to deal with them
• Planning your interviews
• Actions post interview

Lecture 9 – Preparing your investigation report, presenting your case in civil or criminal proceedings and the possible outcomes

• Writing your report
• Preparation for proceedings
• Evidential issues

Outcome if found guilty of allegations

• Civil Case (Employment Law sanctions)
• Criminal Case – Sentencing policy (from fines to imprisonment)

Recovering the proceeds of financial crime:

• Civil Options
• Criminal Assets Bureau (Proceeds of Crime Acts 1996, Criminal Justice Act 1994)

Lecture 10

• Financial Crime in Ireland: Some case studies
• Course Review and Q&A session

The modules given above are the latest example of the curriculum available on this programme. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to change from time to time for reasons which include curriculum enhancement, staff changes, student numbers, improvements in technology, changes to placements or regulatory or external body requirements.

A pass grade on the written assignment will be required for awarding the Diploma.

• Corporate Crime, Shelley Horan BL. Bloomsbury Professional, March 2011
• White Collar Crime in Ireland: A New Architecture of Regulatory Enforcement by McGrath, J (2014). Manchester University Press
• Prosecuting Corruption in Ireland. Paper presented at the Burren Law School by Hamilton, J. (2010a.), 1 May 2010. Available at http://www.dppireland.ie
• An Alternative to Silence, Whistleblower Protection in Ireland. Transparency International (2010). Available at www.transparency.ie
• Bribery and Corruption Law in Ireland, Briefing Document by A&L Goodbody, 21st February 2012. Available at http://www.algoodbody.ie/insightspublications/bribery_and_corruption_law_in_irel
• White Paper on Crime, Third Discussion Document – Overview of Submissions. Received (April 2011). Department of Justice. Available at www.justice.ie